Namibia in 1998

Chief of state and head of government: President Sam Nujoma, assisted by Prime Minister Hage Geingob

The ruling South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO) in August 1998 gave its backing to a third term for Pres. Sam Nujoma, even though this required amending the constitution. Though many opposed a third term, SWAPO clearly did not want a contest between contenders for the post. Nujoma then showed his hand by agreeing to send Namibian troops to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Congo [Kinshasa]). Fighting alongside Angolan forces, the Namibians helped the regime of Laurent Kabila survive against rebel attacks. In protest against SWAPO’s support for a third term and the sending of troops to the Congo (Kinshasa), the Namibian ambassador in London, Ben Ulenga, resigned in late August but appeared not to have a clear strategy to challenge those in power.

A strongly authoritarian culture continued to undermine Namibia’s democratic pretensions. Annoyed at opposition to the building of the proposed dam and hydroelectric project at Epupa on the Kunene River and also at criticism of his decision to send troops to the Congo, Nujoma chose, in a number of speeches, to single out whites and threaten them with possible expulsion. The country’s dispute with Botswana over two islands on their joint border remained unresolved, and Namibia’s declared intention to divert water from the Kavango River caused further tension, for Botswana feared its Okavango Delta would become a desert.

Namibia’s currency, tied to the South African rand, fell by 30% in the worldwide financial crisis that began in May. Economic problems elsewhere reduced demand for Namibian minerals. One of the country’s largest mines, at Tsumeb, was forced to close, with a loss of thousands of jobs.

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